16 Seeds Hit Woe for 100

As Morehead State was mercifully closed down by Louisville -- a 20-point loss, though the Eagles hung with the top overall seed for a while -- another season with no 16-seeds advancing passed us by. In the 25 years since the NCAA tourney first played with 64 teams (and now 65), there has never been a 16 who was able to take down a one.

With four regions in each of those 25 years, the number is now a nice round 100. That's right, 16-seeds have now reached the century mark in futility. It's hardly surprising or a source of embarrassment for any of those teams, though.

One thing I find a bit odd is listening to all the CBS commentators telling us, "someday it's going to happen." How can they be so sure? You are talking about the best four teams in the nation, chock full of talent, confidence, and the ability to close games against any opponent facing off against teams from puny conferences who are hovering around .500. This isn't about major vs. mid-major, because the 16-seeds just can't beat the ones.

Consider the stage, the difference in talent, and the different in overall strength of the teams. Again, the No. 1 seeds are the best four teams in the nation. They square off in the first round against teams who are probably around the 150th-200th best team in the nation.

Take Morehead State. It was great that they made the Big Dance for the first time in 25 years. The Bears should not be ashamed to lose to Louisville one bit. They entered the tournament with an RPI of 141, and even got the chance to win the play-in game.

What you'll find in the one versus 16 games are either embarrassing blowouts (Chattanooga, Radford), teams who hang for a while before getting blown out (Morehead State) and teams who stay close the entire way yet don't have enough talent to prevail (East Tennessee State). Let's just hope in some of those "embarrassing blowouts" that teams show more class than UConn. Seriously, you can't dial it down and win by only 40? You have to laugh at the opponent from your bench (see upper right hand corner for the picture)? C'mon guys. Handle the gift-wrapped victory with a little class.

But, I digress. The point is that the 16-seeds just can't handle the ones. There are no two ways about it. I have no problem taking on the national commentators on this one: As long as the tournament is set up in this fashion, we will never see a 16 seed win a game over a one.

NCAA Tournament Action

Chas McFarland of Wake Forest (C) is fouled as he splits the defense of Cleveland State's Tevon Harmon (L) and Renard Fields in the first half of NCAA basketball tournament play in Miami, Florida March 20, 2009. REUTERS/Hans Deryk (UNITED STATES)

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Michigan State center Goran Suton (L) battles for a rebound with Robert Morris guard Gary Wallace in the first half of their NCAA basketball first round tournament game in Minneapolis, Minnesota March 20, 2009. REUTERS/Andy King (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)

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Cleveland State head coach Gary Waters reacts to an official's call during the first half of their NCAA basketball tournament game against Wake Forest in Miami, Florida March 20, 2009. REUTERS/Hans Deryk (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)

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Florida State guard Delvidas Dulkys (4) goes up for basket past Wisconsin guard Jason Bohannon (12) in the first half of their NCAA basketball tournament game in Boise, Idaho March 20, 2009. REUTERS/Richard Clement (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)

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Wisconsin guard Trevon Hughes (bottom) and Florida State forward Jordan DeMercy dive for a loose ball in the first half of their NCAA basketball tournament game in Boise, Idaho March 20, 2009. REUTERS/Richard Clement (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)

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Cleveland State head coach Gary Waters (R) reacts to guard Cedric Jackson during a timeout against Wake Forest in first half action of NCAA basketball tournament play in Miami, Florida March 20, 2009. REUTERS/Hans Deryk (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)

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Michigan State's Travis Walton, bottom, and Robert Morris' Bateko Francisco go after a loose ball during a first-round men's NCAA college basketball tournament game Friday, March 20, 2009, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

Florida State forward Chris Singleton (31) gets a rebound in front of Wisconsin forward Keaton Nankivil (52) in the first half of a first-round men's NCAA college basketball tournament game in Boise, Idaho, Friday, March 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

Ohio State's B.J. Mullens, back, grabs a rebound over Siena's Ryan Rossiter (22) in the first half of a first-round NCAA men's college basketball tournament game Friday, March 20, 2009, in Dayton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

Wisconsin guard Trevon Hughes (3) and Florida State forward Jordan DeMercy (2) hit the court while competing for a loose ball during the first half of a first-round men's NCAA college basketball tournament game in Boise, Idaho, Friday, March 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Matt Cilley)